Atom RSS

With the Friday deadline coming up fast on the calendar, several arbitration eligible players reached deals with their clubs today ahead of hearings, and avoiding arbitration.

Earlier today, Nate McLouth and the Pittsburgh Pirates reached a 3-year, $15.75 million agreement. McLouth, in his first year of salary arbitration eligibility, was seeking $3.8 million in 2009 while the Pirates were offering $2.75 million, a difference of $1.05 million. McLouth’s $2 million base salary for 2009 is $1.275 million below the $3.275 million mid-point between the two figures. However, when factoring in McLouth’s signing bonus he will see $225,000 over the mid-point figure.

In signing McLouth, the Pirates have now completed agreements with all six of their players in salary arbitration for this year.

By late Tuesday, five more players had reached agreements avoiding salary arbitration.

Third baseman Edwin Encarnacion reached a 2-year, $7.6 million agreement with the Cincinnati Reds. The deal calls for $2 million in 2009 and $4.75 million in 2010, along with an $850,000 signing bonus and performance bonuses of $25,000 for 600 plate appearances. Encarnacion‘s $2 million salary for 2009 is a 344 percent increase from his $450,000 salary he had in 2008.

Encarnacion was seeking $3.7 million while the Reds were offering $2.55 million, a difference of $1.15 million. His $2 million base salary for 2009 is $1.125 million below the $3.125 million mid-point between the asking and offering figures.

By the afternoon, outfielder Andre Ethier, a first time salary arbitration eligible Super Two (ML service time of 2.153 years) had reached a 1-year, $3.1 million agreement with the Los Angeles Dodgers, a 630 percent increase from his $424,500 salary he had in 2008. He an earn $75,000 in performance bonuses -- $25,000 each for 596, 625 and 650 plate appearances.

Ethier had been seeking $3.75 million in salary arbitration while the Dodgers were offering $2.65 million, a difference of $1.1 million. His $3.1 million salary is $100,000 below the $3.2 million mid-point between the two figures.

Outfielder Corey Hart reached a 1-year, $3.25 million agreement with the Milwaukee Brewers, a 632 percent increase from his $444,000 salary in 2008.

Hart had been seeking $3.8 million while the Brewers were offering $2.7 million, a difference of $1.1 million. The $3.25 million salary figure for Hart is the mid-point between the offering and asking figures.

First baseman Conor Jackson reached a 1-year, $3.05 million agreement with the Arizona Diamondbacks, a 627 percent increase from his $419,500 salary in 2008.

Jackson had been seeking $3.65 million while the D-Backs were offering $2.7 million, a difference of $1.1 million. The $3.05 million salary figure for Conor, like Hart, is the mid-point between the offering and asking figures.

Finally, late Tuesday, first baseman Mike Jacobs reached a 1-year, $3.275 million agreement with the Kansas City Royals, the mid-point between Jacobs’ $3.8 million asking figure and the Royals’ $2.75 million offering figure. His $3.275 million salary for 2009 is an increase of 729 percent from his $395,000 salary last season.

With the six agreements today, the following five players are left in salary arbitration: